games / sports
Encourage Your Kids to Practice Sports WRITTEN BY: Dr. Alejandro Badia, MD
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ncouraging children to get involved in sports is one of the best things parents can do for their kids. Sports offer a magnitude of benefits. They keep kids active and provide them with a healthy lifestyle that will prevent disease in the future. In addition, playing sports gives kids a sense of belonging making them feel accepted by their peers, and in turn, more confident, which will help in school and in life. Playing sports also teaches discipline and determination, and these will be reflected in everything they do in life. Dr. Alejandro Badia, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of OrthoNOW®, the only Orthopedic Urgent Care Center franchise in the country with locations in South Florida including Doral and now Weston, shares the following tips: •Take family time outside—beaches, parks, etc. The family that plays together, stays together! •Take your child to a live sporting event so they can get caught up in the adrenaline. •Provide active toys that will make kids go outside to play with them. However, Dr. Badia advises parents to ensure their kids are physically ready to practice specific sports. One way to do this is by doing a pre check-up, or Sports Physical, before kids start a new sport. An important preventative method is performing a Concussion Baseline Test which is an exam available at Or-
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kiddos | December 2014 • January 2015